Qualitative Evaluation of Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Extracts of Coral Tree - Erythrina Senegalensis DC

Abstract

The inability of a majority of world population to afford the cost of modern healthcare is a serious problem that calls for careful research into health promoting components of plants and urgent need to tap from the potentials of their molecular diversities. This study aimed at investigating some properties of Erythrina senegalensis, a plant with several uses in traditional medicine. The n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of each of the leaves, stem bark and root bark of the plant were investigated for their phytochemical composition, antioxidant properties and antimicrobial potentials on some pathogens. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of some pharmacologically important molecules such as, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids and steroids in one or more parts of the plant that justify some of its ethno-medicinal applications. All the extracts of each plant part show considerable antioxidant activity, but, the root bark extracts showed highest activity having values ranging from 82.8 to 91.5% and 78.9 to 94.6% at the lowest (0.05 mg/ml) and optimum (0.5 mg/ml) concentrations respectively. The antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed zones of inhibition ˂ 9 mm for extracts with activity while the stem bark extracts in its entirety showed no activity. Altogether, the plant has very narrow spectrum of activity.